Welcome to "The Death and Resurrection of Jesus" Study Notes
Welcome! This guide covers one of the most vital chapters in your CCEA GCSE Religious Studies (Specification 4610) course: Unit 4 (Christianity through a Study of the Gospel of Matthew).
The events surrounding the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus form the climax of Matthew’s Gospel and the foundation of Christian belief. In the exam, you will need to demonstrate both AO1 knowledge (recalling stories, teachings, and key quotes from Matthew) and AO2 evaluation skills (analyzing theological meanings, significance, and different viewpoints).
Don't worry if this seems like a lot of narrative to remember at first! We have broken down each passage chronologically with clear explanations, memory tips, and key exam traps to avoid.
---Part 1: The Last Supper and Gethsemane
1. The Last Supper & Prediction of Betrayal (Matthew 26:20–30)
Jesus gathers with the Twelve disciples in Jerusalem to celebrate the traditional Jewish Passover meal.
Key Events:
• The Betrayal Predicted: Jesus reveals that one of the Twelve will betray him. When Judas asks, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?" Jesus answers, "You have said so."
• Institution of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist): Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples, saying: "Take and eat; this is my body."
• The Cup of the Covenant: He takes the cup of wine, offers thanks, and says: "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
Real-World Connection & Meaning:
Just as the original Passover celebrated freedom from slavery in Egypt through the blood of a lamb, Jesus presents his upcoming death as a new covenant (a sacred agreement) that frees humanity from the slavery of sin.
2. The Garden of Gethsemane & The Arrest (Matthew 26:36–56)
Jesus goes with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He experiences deep sorrow and anguish.
Jesus' Prayer: He prays three times: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." The "cup" symbolizes the suffering and divine judgment he is about to face. Despite his human dread of pain, he submits fully to God’s plan.
The Disciples' Weakness: Peter, James, and John fall asleep repeatedly. Jesus warns them: "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
The Arrest: Judas arrives leading an armed crowd sent by the chief priests and elders. He identifies Jesus with a kiss (a customary sign of respect twisted into betrayal). One of Jesus' followers draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Jesus rebukes him, stating: "All who draw the sword will die by the sword." Jesus emphasizes that scripture must be fulfilled, and all his disciples abandon him and flee.
Key Takeaway for Part 1: Jesus willingly accepts suffering in obedience to God's will. The Last Supper establishes the foundation for Christian communion, interpreting his death as a sacrificial offering for the forgiveness of sins.
---Part 2: The Two Trials and Peter's Denial
1. The Jewish Trial before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–75)
Jesus is taken at night to the palace of Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest, where the Sanhedrin (the Jewish supreme religious council) has assembled.
The Accusation: False witnesses testify against Jesus, but their claims are inconsistent. Finally, Caiaphas places Jesus under formal oath: "Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
Jesus' Reply: "You have said so... But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
The Verdict: The High Priest tears his robes and accuses Jesus of blasphemy (showing contempt for God or claiming God's divine powers). Under Jewish law, blasphemy carried the death penalty.
Peter’s Denial (Matthew 26:69–75)
While Jesus is on trial inside, Peter waits in the courtyard. Three separate times, bystanders identify Peter as a follower of Jesus from Galilee. Peter denies knowing Jesus all three times. Immediately, a rooster crows. Peter remembers Jesus' prediction ("Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times") and weeps bitterly.
2. The Roman Trial before Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:11–26)
Because the Jewish Sanhedrin had no legal authority under the Roman occupation to carry out an execution, they transfer Jesus to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.
Pilate's Questioning: Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replies, "You have said so." Pilate realizes Jesus has committed no crime under Roman law and is being handed over out of jealousy.
The Customary Prisoner Release: Pilate offers to release a prisoner for the Passover festival. He gives the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas (a notorious criminal). Incited by the chief priests, the mob demands Barabbas be released and shouts for Jesus to be crucified.
Pilate Washes His Hands: Seeing that a riot is beginning, Pilate takes water and washes his hands before the crowd, declaring: "I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility!" He then orders Jesus to be flogged and handed over for crucifixion.
Crucial Exam Distinction:
Make sure you distinguish between the two trials!
• Jewish Trial (Caiaphas/Sanhedrin): Religious charge of blasphemy for claiming divine authority.
• Roman Trial (Pilate): Political issue of claiming kingship (challenging Caesar's rule).
Key Takeaway for Part 2: Human justice fails: the religious leaders convict Jesus on religious grounds, while Pilate caves into mob pressure despite knowing Jesus is innocent.
---Part 3: The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
1. The Road to Golgotha and Crucifixion (Matthew 27:27–56)
Mockery by Roman Soldiers: Soldiers place a scarlet robe on Jesus, twist a crown of thorns onto his head, put a staff in his hand, mock him as "King of the Jews," and beat him.
The Crucifixion:
• Simon of Cyrene: A passer-by forced by the soldiers to carry Jesus' heavy cross beam.
• Golgotha: The execution site, meaning "The Place of the Skull."
• The Titulus (Charge Sign): Above Jesus' head, they place the written notice: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
• Two Thieves: Jesus is crucified between two rebels/thieves who heap insults on him alongside the passers-by and religious leaders.
2. The Death of Jesus & The Cry of Dereliction
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour (noon to 3:00 p.m.), darkness covers the land. At about 3:00 p.m., Jesus cries out with a loud voice: "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which translates to: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Why does Jesus say this? This is the opening line of Psalm 22. While it expresses genuine, intense suffering and the burden of human sin separating humanity from God, Psalm 22 ultimately concludes with triumphant faith and God’s victory.
3. The Five Miraculous Signs in Matthew
Matthew's Gospel uniquely emphasizes five dramatic apocalyptic signs that accompany the exact moment of Jesus' death:
Sign 1: Darkness over the Land: Darkness falls from noon until 3:00 p.m., symbolizing cosmic mourning and divine judgment upon sin.
Sign 2: The Temple Curtain Torn: The thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple tears in two from top to bottom. This signifies that Jesus' death has removed the barrier between God and humanity, granting everyone direct access to God.
Sign 3: The Earthquake: The earth shakes and rocks split, showing creation reacting to the death of the Creator.
Sign 4: The Tombs Opened: Tombs break open and the bodies of many holy people who had died are raised to life (and appear to many after Jesus' resurrection), demonstrating Christ's victory over physical death.
Sign 5: The Centurion's Confession: Seeing the earthquake and all that happened, the Roman centurion and his guards are terrified and proclaim: "Truly this was the Son of God!"
Key Takeaway for Part 3: Jesus' death is accompanied by cosmic and miraculous signs showing that his death was not an ordinary execution, but an earth-shattering event providing direct access to God and victory over death.
---Part 4: The Burial and the Resurrection
1. The Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57–66)
Joseph of Arimathea: A wealthy disciple goes to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus. He wraps it in clean linen cloth and places it in his own newly carved rock tomb, rolling a large stone across the entrance.
The Guard at the Tomb: The chief priests remember that Jesus said, "After three days I will rise." To prevent the disciples from stealing the body and claiming a resurrection, Pilate allows them to post Roman guards and place an official seal upon the stone.
2. The Resurrection Morning (Matthew 28:1–10)
At dawn on the first day of the week (Sunday), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to view the tomb.
The Angel's Appearance: A violent earthquake occurs as an angel of the Lord comes down from heaven, rolls back the stone, and sits on it. His appearance is like lightning, and his clothes are white as snow. The Roman guards shake with fear and become like dead men.
The Good News: The angel speaks to the women: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." The angel tells them to look where he lay and quickly go tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee.
Encounter with the Risen Jesus: As the women run with joy and fear to tell the disciples, Jesus meets them on the path, saying "Greetings." They fall at his feet and worship him.
Key Takeaway for Part 4: The resurrection confirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God and fulfills his own predictions. The women are the first witnesses and messengers of the risen Christ.
---Part 5: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20)
The eleven disciples travel to the designated mountain in Galilee. When they see Jesus, they worship him, though some doubt.
Jesus delivers his final command, known as The Great Commission:
1. Universal Authority: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
2. The Mission Command: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
3. The Continuous Promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Significance for the Church:
• It opens the Gospel to all nations (Gentiles as well as Jews).
• It establishes the standard Trinitarian formula for Christian baptism.
• It offers lasting comfort that Jesus remains spiritually present with his followers forever.
Part 6: Core Theological Concepts & Evaluation (AO2)
In 5-mark and 10-mark AO2 questions, you must evaluate concepts rather than just telling the story. Here are the three main theological ideas you must understand:
1. Atonement and Sacrifice
Meaning: "Atonement" refers to making amends or restoring the broken relationship between God and humanity caused by sin.
• Jesus died as the ultimate, unblemished sacrifice (sin offering).
• The torn temple curtain shows that the separation between God and human beings is permanently dissolved.
2. Fulfilment of Prophecy
Matthew wrote primarily for a Jewish-Christian audience. He constantly shows how Jesus fulfills Old Testament scriptures (e.g., suffering as the Suffering Servant, Psalm 22, the Passover Lamb). This proves to Matthew’s readers that Jesus' death was not a failure or accident, but part of God’s eternal divine plan.
3. The Centrality of the Resurrection
Why the Resurrection is the most important belief:
• Proves Jesus was who he claimed to be (the divine Son of God).
• Demonstrates absolute victory over sin and death.
• Guarantees eternal life and future resurrection for believers.
Alternative Viewpoint (What else is important?):
• Some argue Jesus' teachings (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount, love for enemies) provide the moral foundation for everyday Christian life.
• Others argue the Crucifixion/Incarnation is just as vital, because without Jesus becoming human and dying as a sacrifice, there could be no resurrection.
Part 7: Top Tips & Common Pitfalls for CCEA Unit 4
1. Do Not Mix Up Gospel Details!
This exam tests Matthew only. Do not include details found only in Luke (e.g., Jesus speaking kindly to the repentant thief on the cross) or John (e.g., soldiers piercing Jesus' side with a spear). Stick strictly to Matthew's narrative and his distinctive apocalyptic signs (earthquake, tombs opening, resurrected holy people).
2. Distinguish Between the Two Charges:
• Sanhedrin = Blasphemy (claiming to be God’s Son).
• Pilate = Treason/Political Rebellion (claiming to be King of the Jews).
3. Avoid Pure Description in AO2 Questions:
When an exam prompt asks: "The Resurrection is the only reason Christianity exists today. Assess this statement," do not spend your time retelling the story of Easter morning! Instead, weigh up arguments: explain why the resurrection gives hope and validates Christ's claims, contrast this with the significance of Jesus' ethical teachings and death, and provide a clear, reasoned conclusion.
Quick Revision Checklist
Can you explain each of these from Matthew's Gospel?
• The meaning of bread and wine at the Last Supper (Matt 26:26–28)
• What Jesus prayed in Gethsemane (Matt 26:39)
• Why Caiaphas tore his robes (Matt 26:65)
• Why Pilate washed his hands (Matt 27:24)
• The 5 miraculous signs at Jesus' death (Matt 27:51–54)
• Who asked for Jesus' body and buried him (Matt 27:57–60)
• The words of the angel at the empty tomb (Matt 28:5–6)
• The three elements of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18–20)